topic how to create a new visit date in SAS Programming

how to create a new visit date

ursula — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 02:32:05 GMT

Hi there,

if anyone can help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance.

I want to have an output as following - New VISDATE

data have:

ID	visit	VISDATE	PAY	New VISDATE
A	10	2/18/2022	1	2/18/2022
A	11	4/18/2022	1	2/18/2022
A	12	5/6/2023	1	2/18/2022
A	13	10/6/2023	2	10/6/2023
A	14	7/8/2024	2	7/8/2024
A	15	12/8/2024	1	12/8/2024
A	16	2/28/2025	2	2/28/2025
A	17	9/25/2025	1	9/25/2025
A	18	12/7/2025	1	9/25/2025

so if PAY =1 then the new VISDATE = VISDATE, if the next visit has PAY =1 then carry forward the new VISDATE until PAY=2.

Re: how to create a new visit date

Ksharp — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:40:34 GMT

data have;
infile cards expandtabs;
input ID $	visit 	VISDATE	 :$20. PAY;
cards; 
A	10	2/18/2022	1
A	11	4/18/2022	1
A	12	5/6/2023	1
A	13	10/6/2023	2
A	14	7/8/2024	2
A	15	12/8/2024	1
A	16	2/28/2025	2
A	17	9/25/2025	1
A	18	12/7/2025	1
;

data want;
 set have;
 by id pay notsorted;
 retain new_visitdate;
 if first.pay and pay=1 then new_visitdate=VISDATE;
 if pay ne 1 then new_visitdate=VISDATE;
run;

Re: how to create a new visit date

PaigeMiller — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:03:08 GMT

Just a quick addition to the correct answer from @Ksharp : the RETAIN statement, when used properly, allows you to carry data forward to the next row, and allows it to change when your rules require it to change (when PAY=2 do not carry the data forward).

Re: how to create a new visit date

ursula — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:29:49 GMT

Thank you so much for the codes! it really helps! I love SAS community support!

Re: how to create a new visit date

ursula — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:30:34 GMT

Thank you so much for the information. I really appreciate it.